Ferragamo

Independent Minds: Salvatore Ferragamo, Viesca Toscana

Fashion meets farmhouse chic in the Ferragamo family’s holiday home turned tranquil Tuscan retreat

The Ferragamo name is known the world over as a symbol of Italian luxury, ever since Wanda Ferragamo transformed her husband’s shoe-making company into the global fashion house that it is today. As the family holiday home where Wanda, Salvatore, and their six children spent summer days and long weekends soaking up the Tuscan countryside, Viesca Toscana holds a special place in the heart of Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the Salvatore who gave his name to the brand. Transformative projects clearly run in the family, as Salvatore recently stepped into his grandparents’ shoes to renovate and run the estate as an exclusive collection of villas and suites for travellers in search of the true Tuscany.

 

When my grandparents bought the estate, they occupied the main house while farmers still lived in the surrounding casolari – typical Tuscan farmhouses – so there was this wonderful community spirit about the place.

Do you have a vision for the future of the hotel?

The history of the Viesca area stretches back to Roman times, and the estate itself has passed through the hands of the Counts Guidi in 1200, the Medici-Tornaquinci and Martelli families at the end of 1700, and finally to my family in the 1950s who transformed the manor house and neighbouring farmhouses into a private residence through careful architectural restoration. Over time, we have also collected more than 300 agricultural objects and work tools from pastoral families who have lived and worked in Viesca, along with art pieces, to be displayed in our Agricultural Museum which tell the story of rural Tuscan life. We hope to continue to preserve and protect these Tuscan traditions for generations to come.

Previous

Go it alone: the luxury of solo travel

Next

How to spend a weekend in Lisbon

Latest stories

Turning nature into nourishment on a remote Norwegian island

On a small island a short boat ride from Herdla, where salt carries on Arctic winds, sustainability isn’t a slogan — it’s the rhythm of life. At Lilløy Lindenberg, the days move with the tides: seaweed is foraged from the surrounding shallows by chef Antje de Vries, whose vegan, season-driven

The must-know boutique hotels of 2025: SLH award winners revealed

As SLH marks 35 years of celebrating independently minded stays, this year’s awards spotlight the hotels redefining boutique luxury around the world. Handpicked by our travel experts and voted for by our passionate community, the 2025 winners are stylish, soulful stays to have firmly on your radar. Bookmark this list

Tuscany, not as you know it: inside La Roqqa’s riviera escape

In the mid-20th century, Porto Ercole was a hot spot for the Hollywood jet-set. Now, design-led La Roqqa is putting this quaint seaside town – and Tuscany’s unsung Argentario coast – back on the international crowd’s map.

The ultimate Vilnius city guide

With a complicated political past (and present), Lithuania might not typically be top of mind when brainstorming a European getaway. But Vilnius, the country’s vibrant capital, is a burgeoning hub for culture with a vibrant international food scene. And the utterly walkable metropolis — just a short flight away from